San Francisco — As he hurried to another Radio Row interview, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson expressed frustration that Bill Belichick didn’t earn a Hall of Fame gold jacket in his first year of eligibility. Woodson said the Hall should celebrate unquestionable excellence; looking back on his own career, he argued, players who claim to be among the all-time best need multiple All-Pro seasons to back it up.
Woodson’s remarks echo Hall colleague Deion Sanders, who has criticized what he sees as a dilution of the Hall’s standards. Sanders also lamented Belichick’s exclusion and floated the idea that only existing Hall members should decide future inductees.
Hall of Fame President Jim Porter confirmed that the 50 members of the selection committee will meet in person next January to pick the 2027 class. Porter said the Hall will routinely review the voting procedures with committee members to make sure the most deserving candidates advance. The committee hasn’t met face-to-face since 2019; an in-person meeting planned for 2023 was switched to virtual because bad weather disrupted travel. Porter added the Hall will make some adjustments as needed to “protect the integrity of the Hall of Fame and the integrity of the process.”
As one of the 50 voters, I’ve written about flaws in the current system that can keep worthy candidates off the ballot simply because of limited spots — a situation that affected names like Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who appeared on my ballot alongside Roger Craig. Their omissions sparked a wave of calls for reform across the league, and I heard a range of viewpoints during events this week.
Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy urged broader representation on the selection committee, arguing that more former players should have a say. He suggested a multi-tiered approach — players, media and front-office executives — to avoid a single group, especially the media, dominating decisions.
Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz maintained that some candidates will have to wait their turn and that it’s not unusual for coaches and other figures to be elected after several years on the ballot. He noted the disappointment around Belichick and Kraft’s exclusion but said the process has historical precedents of worthy candidates being elected later.
Former coach and linebacker Ron Rivera wants the Hall to vote by distinct categories — separating players, coaches and contributors — since each group has different criteria and contexts for evaluation.
Woodson summed up his stance by saying the Hall should be reserved for the very best. He acknowledged that it’s acceptable for someone to be elected later rather than immediately, but emphasized clarity about what constitutes “greatness” and “excellence.”
On a different front, the league plans to revisit the “tush push” or tuck‑push play this offseason. Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said the Competition Committee will discuss the play at the earliest at the owners’ meetings in March in Phoenix. A proposal to ban the push last year fell two votes short of the 75% approval required, and officials have struggled to call offsides or early movement accurately in pileups near the line.
Vincent said the league needs to determine when a player is actually offside or moving too early while also avoiding premature whistle blows that stop ongoing forward progress. Players interviewed this week echoed the need for clearer rules or better enforcement. Van Noy criticized the play and suggested that if it’s allowed, referees must be positioned to properly judge false starts and offsides; he also complained that legal language has muddled the practical calls. Rams defensive tackle Coby Turner said the league either needs to ban the play or clarify enforcement so everyone understands how it will be handled.
Munoz pushed back more simply, calling the controversy part of the nature of tackle football. He reminded listeners that football is inherently physical and that a difference of style doesn’t mean the sport should be fundamentally changed.
Fan take: This debate over Hall of Fame standards matters because it shapes how NFL history is remembered and who gets the ultimate recognition — and changes to the voting process could shift the balance between media, players and executives in deciding that legacy. The tug-of-war over the tuck‑push likewise affects the on-field product and officiating: clearer rules or a ban would alter late-game strategy and how referees are deployed, with direct consequences for games and coaching tactics.
